Monday, September 30, 2013

L. C. Greenwood, Defensive Lineman Part Of "Steel Curtain" Defense That Helped Pittsburgh Steelers Win Four Super Bowls, R.I.P.

L. C. Greenwood, a six-time Pro-Bowl defensive end who was a member of the "Steel Curtain" defense that played a major part of the Pittsburgh Steelers' four Super Bowl championship teams of the 1970s, passed away on Sunday at a Pittsburgh hospital at age 67.

Mr. Greenwood passed away from natural causes.

L.C. played alongside Dwight White, Ernie Holmes, and Hall-of-Famer Mean Joe Greene on the Steelers' defensive line.

Another College Football Coach........

Gets the boot.

Anal Cavity

Heluva way to ruin a world-record marathon run.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Riders Fall Again

At Montreal:

Josh Neiswander completed 20 of 35 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown as the Montreal Alouettes (5-8) handed the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-5) their fourth straight Canadian Football League defeat on Sunday, 17-12.

Maxi's First Goal Carries Timbers To Victory At Galaxy's Expense

At Portland, Oregon:

Maximiliamo Urruti scored his first goal for his new team in the 52nd minute as the Portland Timbers defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 in Sunday Major League Soccer action at home.

Robbie Keane's second-half stoppage-time equalizer for the Galaxy was disallowed as he was flagged for being offside.

The Timbers, who took a step closer to clinching their first-ever MLS era playoff berth by grabbing their franchise record 12th win of the season, tightened their hold on third place in the Western Conference standings.

Portland will travel to Vancouver for a Casacadia Cup clash against the Whitecaps next Sunday at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (ROOT Sports Northwest).


Ducks Remain At # 2 In Both Polls; Some Support For Beavers In Coaches' Poll

Following their Saturday beatdown of visiting California, the Oregon Ducks remained ranked second in both the Associated Press (media) and USA Today/Coaches polls (with five first-place votes in the former, two in the latter), trailing only Alabama.

After their fourth straight win, a thorough clock-cleaning of visiting Colorado, the Oregon State Beavers finally regained some support in the Coaches' poll.  The Beavers would be ranked #35.

Trojans Can Coach

Now what's next?

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Ducks Overcome De'Anthony Thomas Injury, Rout Bears

At Eugene, Oregon:

Quarterback Marcus Mariota threw for two touchdowns and ran for another on Saturday as the Oregon Ducks (ranked #2 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls; 4-0 overall, 1-0 in Pac-12 conference play) overcame a leg injury suffered by De'Anthony Thomas who was returning the opening kickoff and blew out the visiting California Golden Bears (1-3, 0-1) 55-16 during a driving rain at Autzen Stadium.  It was the Pac-12 conference opener for both schools.

Big Day For Sean Mannion As Beavers Hammer Rusty Buffaloes

At Corvallis, Oregon:

Sean Mannion threw for 414 yards and a school-record six touchdowns on Saturday as the Oregon State Beavers (4-1 overall, 2-0 in Pac-12 play) manhandled the visiting Colorado Buffaloes (2-1, 0-1) 44-17.  The Buffaloes, who had their originally scheduled contest for two weeks ago against Fresno State postponed due to flooding, were coming off their scheduled bye week and played their first match in three weeks.  The Beavers have now won four straight games.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Time For A REALLY Old Kinescope

Here's a very early episode of Candid Camera as aired over the NBC Television Network in 1949.

Yes, kids, that's Allen Funt with hair on his noggin.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Niners Get Back On Winning Track; Dominate Rams In St. Louis

At St. Louis:

Colin Kaepernick threw two touchdown passed (20 yards to Anquan Boldin, 12 yards to Vernon Davis) while Frank Gore ran wild, carrying the ball 20 times for 153 yards and a touchdown (34 yards) as the San Francisco 49ers (2-2) bounced back on Thursday night by manhandling the St. Louis Rams (1-3) 35-11 in National Football League action.

Dag Nab It, Muskie!

Oops, excuse me.

It's Dippety-Do, NOT Deputy Dawg.

Late 1960s commercial for the hair-styling gel.

Are You Man Enough To Try It?

1965 commercial for Brylcreem.

I'm sort of a Groom n' Clean guy myself.

And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor

Here's a commercial from the early 1960s for Cue Toothpaste, a Colgate-Palmolive product.

Who Wants Bud's Job?

The current commissioner plans to step down at the end of next season.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Enjoy A Ride In That '59 DeSoto, Rock!

Here's Rock Hudson starring in a commercial for the 1959 DeSoto.

Here's An Unforgettable Car

Here's a commercial for the 1975 American Motors Pacer.

Time For A Few Words

Here are some commercials for products that are currently not being made.

You Mean Los Angeles Still Wants An NFL Team???

There are still some obsticles.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Coffee, Tea, or Viceroy?

Early 1960s commercial for Viceroy Cigarettes.

Would You Rather Have Dirty Motor Oil?

Live 1951 commercial for Esso Motor Oil.

Gosh, Jimmy, That Motorola Actually Looks Bigger Than Your Nose!

Here's a live 1951 commercial for Motorola with Jimmy Durante.

Here's One From Out Of The Past

Here's a 1951 commercial for Gold Medal Flour.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Can't Sleep?

Here's a commercial for Sominex with Bob Sheppard.  This aired during a 1957 NBC Network telecast of Twenty One.  You'll briefly see host Jack Barry at the end.

Hey, They Are Outstanding! And They Are Mild!

Hell, you can light either end!

Here's a late 1950s commercial for Pall Mall Cigarettes with Lee Marvin, who starred in the TV series M Squad at the time.

The series was sponsored by American Tobacco Company, which made Pall Mall (as well as Lucky Strike), and Lee was there to promote the product.

And Now, A Word From Our Alternate Sponsor.......................

Here's a 1950 commercial for Camel Cigarettes.

What Are You Gonna Do, Popeye? Drink That Stuff Then Try To Beat Up Bluto (or Brutus)?

Here's a 1960s commercial for Start, and instant orange breakfast drink.

Starring Popeye (voiced by Allen Swift).

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Riders Fall At Home To BC; Suffer Third Straight Defeat

At Regina, Saskatchewan:

Quarterback Thomas DeMarco completed 18 of 33 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start while Paul McCallum kicked the game-winning field goal as the British Columbia Lions (8-4) came from behind to defeat the now-sagging Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-4) 24-22 on the road in Sunday Canadian Football League action as the Riders have now dropped three games in a row.

Triumphant Return To Bay Area For Andrew Luck; Colts Smother Sluggish Niners

At San Francisco:

Quarterback Andrew Luck completed 18 of 27 passes for 164 yards and ran six yards for a touchdown while Trent Richardson (in his first game since coming over in a controversial trade from Cleveland) and Ahmad Bradshaw (who ran for 95 yards) each ran for a score as the Indianapolis Colts (2-1) downed the San Francisco 49ers (1-2) 27-7 in Sunday National Football League action on the road.

Ducks Remain #2 In Both AP And Coaches Polls (And Pick Up Additional First-Place Votes); Still No Love For Beavers

Despite being idle this past weekend, the Oregon Ducks remained at #2 in both the Associated Press (with four first-place votes) and USA Today/Coaches (three first-place votes) Polls as released on Sunday, while Alabama remains on top on both polls.

With perhaps the residue from their season-opening home defeat against Eastern Washington still in evidence, the Oregon State Beavers, despite racking up their third straight win, an exciting comeback victory at San Diego State, still received no support in either poll.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Beavers Storm Back In 4th Quarter, Upend Aztecs In San Diego

At San Diego:

Quarterback Sean Mannion threw three touchdown passes, while cornerback Steve Nelson ran back an interception for the winning score with 2:38 remaining in the game as the Oregon State Beavers (3-1), who started the fourth quarter trailing by 13 points, roared back to knock off the San Diego State Aztecs (0-3) 34-30 on Saturday night on the road.

Wow! Ralph Bellamy! In Living Color?!

Here are a pair of commercial for products from the J. B. Williams Company:

In the opener, veteran movie and TV actor Ralph Bellamy extolls the virtues of Geritol tonic, in tablet and liquid form, of course.

This sequence ends with an animated commercial for Sominex.

Want Some Dream Whip Topping On Your Strawberries?

Here's a 1964 commercial from Dream Whip Dessert Topping Mix.

Let's Be Gladful That This Isn't For A Product Called Asleep

1964 commercial for a Birds-Eye frozen orange drink called Awake.

Diego Valeri Pulls Through For Timbers

At Portland, Oregon:

In the lone Friday Major League Soccer contest, Diego Valeri scored the game's only goal in the 13th minute and Donovan Ricketts hung on for the shutout as the Portland Timbers defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 at home in a nationally-televised match.  The victory lifted Portland to third place in the Western Conference standings.

The next Timbers contest is on September 29 at home against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Ken Norton, Sr., Former Heavyweight Boxing Champ; Broke Muhammad Ali's Jaw In '73 Bout, R.I.P.

Ken Norton, Sr., a former heavyweight champion boxer best remembered for beating Muhammad Ali in a 1973 fight in which he broke Mr. Ali's jaw, passed away from heart failure on Wednesday at age 70.

Mr. Norton had been in ill health in recent years, as he had suffered a series of strokes.

It was in a 1973 bout in San Diego that Kenny broke Muhammad's jaw and handed the former (and future) champ only his second career defeat.

The twosome met again six months in a rematch that Mr. Ali won by split decision.

The third bout between Kenny and Muhammad, which took place at New York's Yankee Stadium in 1976, which Mr. Ali won by a narrow decision to keep his heavywight championship (which he had reclaimed two years earlier after he defeated George Foremen in Zaire).

After having won a heavyweight title elimination bout in 1977, Mr. Norton was declared World Boxing Council heavyweight champion in 1978 after Leon Spinks, who defeated Muhammad Ali early that year, wanted a rematch with Mr. Ali, instead of the WBC's mandatory challenger (Muhammad got the better of Leon in the rematch).  

Kenny's reign as WBC champ was brief before losing a brutal 15-round title bout to Larry Holmes on June 9, 1978 and never won the heavyweight title again.

Kenny's son, Ken Norton, Jr., was a talented collegiate linebacker at UCLA before embarking on a successful NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.  Ken, Jr. is now an assistant coach with the Seattle Seahawks. 


Monday, September 16, 2013

How About A Ride In A "Swept Wing" '57 Dodge?

Here's a commercial for the 1957 Dodge that aired during an ABC Network telecast of Lawrence Welk's Monday night Top Tunes and New Talent, with announcer and commercial spokesman Lou Crosby (Cathy Lee's dad).

And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor

Here's a mid-1960s commercial for Bugles, a General Mills snack product.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Niners Blown Out In Rainy Seattle

At Seattle:

In a contest delayed late in the first quarter for an hour due to thunderstorms in the local area, Marshawn Lynch scored three touchdowns while gaining 135 total yards (including 98 yards rushing) as the Seattle Seahawks (2-0) dominated the visiting---and error and penalty-prone---San Francisco 49ers (1-1) 29-3 in Sunday night National Football League action, giving their head coach Pete Carroll  a big present on his 62nd birthday.

Ducks Remain Ranked Second In Both Polls

After their lopsided home win over Tennessee, the Oregon Ducks maintained their #2 position (after Alabama) in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls.  The Ducks received one first-place vote in each poll, the only vote going for someone other than the Crimson Tide.

Despite pulling out an exciting overtime road win over Utah, the Oregon State Beavers received no support in either poll.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Beavers Overcome Loss Of Storm Woods, Top Utes In OT In SLC

At Salt Lake City, Utah:

Despite a frightening neck injury to running back Storm Woods, the Oregon State Beavers (2-1 overall, 1-0 in Pac-12 play), with Sean Mannion completing 27 of 44 passes for 443 yards and five touchdowns, the last of them from six yards to Brandin Cooks in overtime, defeated the home-standing Utah Runnin' Utes (2-1, 0-1; they would be tied for 43rd in the USA Today/Coaches poll) 51-48 on Saturday night in the Pac-12 Conference opener for both schools.

Timbers Battle Back To Gain 1-1 Road Draw With Goats; Chivas USA Eliminated From Playoff Contention

At Carson, California:

Diego Valeri scored the equalizer in the 50th minute as the Portland Timbers gained a 1-1 Saturday Major League Soccer road draw with Chivas USA.  Bryan de la Fuente scored in the 23rd minute for the Goats, who were mathematically eliminated from MLS Cup playoff contention for the fourth straight year.

The Timbers host the Colorado Rapids this coming Friday in a nationally-televised match starting at 7:00 PM (NBCSN).

Riders Blow Lead, Fall To Argos At Home

At Regina, Saskatchewan:

Zach Collaros completed 18 of 29 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown while running for another score as well as the Toronto Argonauts (7-4) outscored the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-3) 19-6 in the fourth quarter en route to a 31-29 Canadian Football League road win on Saturday night.

Another Dominating Win For The Ducks


At Eugene, Oregon:

Quarterback Marcus Mariola threw for a career-high 456 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score as the #2-ranked (in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls) Oregon Ducks (3-0) mauled the visiting Tennessee Volunteers (2-1; they would be ranked 39th in the AP poll, 44th in the Coaches' poll) 59-14 on Saturday.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Don Nelson, Ozzie's Younger Brother, Writer For "The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet," R.I.P.

Don Nelson, the younger brother of Ozzie Nelson and a writer for the classic 1952-66 television sitcom series, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, passed away on Tuesday of an aortic aneurysm on Tuesday at his Studio City, California home at age 86.

Mr. Nelson had Parkinson's disease.

A jazz saxophonist who, for a brief time, worked in Ozzie's orchestra, Don was co-writer on his brother's family's lone feature-length film, 1952's "Here Come The Nelsons." The movie helped set the stage for the ABC Network TV series (itself a video version of a successful radio show), which launched that fall.

Don wound up outliving all four principal cast members; brother Ozzie (who passed away from liver cancer in 1975), nephew Rick, whose trademark catchphrase "I don't mess around, boy" was dreamed up by Uncle Don (plane crash, 1985), sister-in-law Harriet (1994), and older nephew David (2011).

Monday, September 09, 2013

What's This?

A sex-change operation?!

Naw, just a rebranding of an existing cable network.

Sunday, September 08, 2013

Bombers Get Revenge On Riders In Banjo Bowl

At Winnipeg, Manitoba:

Will Ford ran back a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown helped spark the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-8) to a 25-13 Sunday Canadian Football League home win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-2) in the inaugural edition of the Banjo Bowl played in front of a sellout crowd at Investors Group Field.

Big Numbers For Colin Kaepernick, Niners Hold Off Packers In Season Opener

At San Francisco:

In the National Football League regular-season opener for both teams, quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw for a career-high 412 yards and three touchdowns, two to Vernon Davis and one to newcomer Anquan Boldin (who caught 13 passes for 412 yards) while Frank Gore ran for the game-winning TD with 5:47 remaining in regulation as the San Francisco 49ers defeated the visiting Green Bay Packers 34-28.

Ducks Stay At #2 In AP Poll, Climb Up A Spot In Coaches' Rankings

Following their lopsided Saturday victory at Virginia, the Oregon Ducks remained at #2 (with one first-place vote) in the Associated Press (media) poll while climbing up a spot to the same position in the USA Today/Coaches rankings (also with a first-place vote), trailing only Alabama in both polls.

Despite their home win over Hawaii, the Oregon State Beavers remained unranked with nary a vote for support in either poll.

Saturday, September 07, 2013

Timbers Blast Feckless Reds; Get Back On Winning Track

At Portland, Oregon:

Kalif Alhassan (45'+1), Rodney Wallace (83'), Will Johnson (87'), and Diego Valeri (90'+3) provided the scoring as the Portland Timbers busted open a tight game and dominated visiting Toronto FC 4-0 in Saturday Major League Soccer play.  The victory, with goalkeeper Milos Kokic picking up the shutout in place of international-duty-bound Donovan Ricketts, was the Timbers first ever in four tries against the Reds.

Portland will visiting Chivas USA at the StubHub Center in Carson, California next Saturday.

Beavers Dominate Second Half, Down Rainbow Warriors

Quarterback Sean Mannion threw for 372 yards and four touchdowns----two of them to Brandin Cooks---as the Oregon State Beavers (1-1) bounced back from their upset defeat to Eastern Washington with a 33-14 Saturday home win over the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (0-2).

Ducks Overrun Cavaliers In Charlottesville

At Charlottesville, Virginia:

De'Anthony Thomas ran fro 124 yards and three touchdowns while quarterback Marcus Mariota threw for two scores and ran 71 yards for another on Saturday as the Oregon Ducks
(2-0; #2 in the Associated Press poll, #3 in the USA Today/Coaches rankings) manhandled the Virginia Cavaliers (1-1; they would be ranked #39 in the AP poll) 59-10 on the road.  The Ducks, one week after gaining a school-record 777 yards in their annihilation of Nicholls State, picked up 557 yards against the Cavaliers.

Drive Safely----Watch Out For The Other Guy

1950's-era PSA from the National Safety Council.

Thursday, September 05, 2013

A Day At The Beach With Charlie And His Bloss, Mr. Magloo

Here's a made-for-television Mr. Magoo cartoon from UPA in 1960, "A Day At The Beach."  In this one, our nearsighted hero thinks he, his houseboy Charlie, and his cat Bowser (whom Quincy mistakes for a dog) are going to the beach.  This cartoon, in its' original undubbed version, was directed by Ray Patterson and written by ex-Disneyites Al Bertino and Dick Kinney.  Jim Backus, of course, stars as the voice of Mr. Quincy Magoo.

Rare Do-Wop

In this rare find from 1956, here are The Bop Chords with "When I Woke Up This Morning."



Lead vocal on this Holiday Records recording by Ernest Harriston.

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Now, A Word From Out Sponsor

From circe 1958, a commercial featuring various brands of Nabisco snacks.

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

At Least Jim Backus Wasn't In This One

From the circa 1964, here are NFL players Don Meredith (Dallas Cowboys), Ron Kramer (Green Bay Packers), Charley Johnson (St. Louis Cardinals), and Roman Gabriel (Los Angeles Rams) in a commercial from Personna Razor Blades. 


One question:  Just what were Cuckoo Razor Blades?

Ducks Jump Buckeyes To Climb To #2 In AP Poll; Beavers Fall Out After Upset Defeat

In the newest Associated Press (media) poll, the Oregon Ducks, following their Saturday annihilation of Nicholls State, climbed past Ohio State into #2 in the rankings, trailing only Alabama.  The Ducks remained at #3 in the USA Today/Coaches poll.  As for Oregon State, following their upset home defeat at the hands of Eastern Washington, the Beavers, who were ranked 25th in both polls coming into this past weekend's action, wound up with no votes whatsoever in either poll.

Monday, September 02, 2013

Time For A Rare TV Treat

Here is the February 19, 1957 CBS Network telecast, Do You Trust Your Wife?, hosted by Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.  Later that year, the show changed networks (to ABC) and hosts (Johnny Carson) and by 1958 was renamed Who Do You Trust? 

Would You Buy Cereal From This Man?

In a commercial shown originally during the closing moments of a 1963 CBS Network telecast of The New Phil Silvers Show, here's Phil with how to get Post Toasties out of an ear of corn.

Hell, Andy Griffith and Bugs Bunny did the same.

Charmin Paper Towels?!

Here's a 1957 commercial for Charmin Paper Towels, a Proctor and Gamble product.

Sunday, September 01, 2013

Riders Dominate Visiting Bombers

At Regina, Saskatchewan:

Kory Sheets, Taj Smith, and Geroy Simon each scored a pair of touchdowns as the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-1) reached the midway point of their Canadian Football League campaign with a 48-25 home domination of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-8) before a sellout crowd of 44,910 fans at Mosaic Stadium.

Sir David Frost, Best Remembered For Interviews With Dick Nixon, R.I.P.

Sir David Frost, the British television personality best remembered for his 1977 televised interviews with former President Richard M. Nixon, passed away on Saturday of an apparent heart attack at age 74, while aboard the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, where he was scheduled to give a speech.

Mr. Frost was a regular on the BBC's satirical comedy series That Was The Week That Was.  After the BBC took the show of the air, Sir David came to America and became, first a regular, then the host, of NBC's version of TW3 (1964-65).

He later hosted a syndicated TV talk show.

It was in 1977 that Sir David conducted his interviews with former President Nixon.  When asked about his abuses of presidential power, Mr. Nixon came up with this answer, "Well, when the president does it, that means it is not illegal."

In his last years, Sir David conducted interviews with newsmakers for Al Jazeera English.